Toothache: What to do

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of analgesic drugs, can only exacerbate the damage in the long term; not to mention the effects that can be achieved by constantly taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to hide the pain.

What to do, then, in the presence of toothache? What are the most suitable dental interventions? How can you stop the pain at home?

is the most suitable active ingredient to control toothache). We briefly recall that the effect of NSAIDs is purely symptomatic: these analgesics act exclusively on painful symptoms, but do nothing to resolve the triggering cause. In any case, before taking the drug, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Brush your teeth with warm water, never too hot or excessively cold. Thermal stimuli can in fact aggravate toothache

A toothache that has persisted for a few days can be relieved by applying an ice pack outside (on the cheek), possibly wrapped on a soft cloth.

Use dental floss or brush carefully: incorrect use can irritate the gums and accentuate pre-existing toothache

Brush your teeth with good quality toothpaste. In case of toothache associated with dental hypersensitivity, it is advisable to avoid abrasive / whitening toothpastes, which could sensitize the teeth even more, accentuating the pain. Fluoride toothpastes recommended.

Avoid eating too hot or frozen foods: extreme temperatures could aggravate toothache

Avoid chewing gum or chewing on pens and pencils

After consulting a doctor, it is possible to control the pain by applying a gel based on lidocaine (local anesthetic) to the gum of the sore tooth

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Avoid electric toothbrushes and those with too hard bristles

Carry out proper oral hygiene, always brushing your teeth after meals

(pulpits, granulomas, cysts, dental abscesses, etc.)

Although today it is quite rare to have to resort to the extraction of teeth affected by mild to moderate infections, it is recommended not to delay. By contacting the dental office as soon as possible, you can prevent toothache from turning into an unbearable torment. , in fact, that the bacteria begin their destructive path starting from the tooth enamel, and then go deeper and deeper: even a small caries can, in the long term, create disproportionate damage (serious infections, tooth fall, etc.) , also spilling into the surrounding tissues.

etc.), trauma (falls or burns of the dental pulp following professional teeth whitening treatments), inadequate dental cleaning, stress, bruxism, heart disease and sinusitis.
To simplify the understanding, the following diagram shows the types of intervention indicated for the most common causes of toothache.

Toothache addicted to ...

Possible solution / dental intervention

Mild to moderate caries

Obturation

Complicated / pulpitis caries

Devitalization

Complicated pulpitis that cannot be healed with devitalization

Tooth extraction

Tooth abscess

Antibiotic cure
Pus drainage

Dental cyst

Surgical removal of the infection
Apicoectomy
Tooth extraction (complicated case)

Dental granuloma

Devitalization
Apicoectomy

Alveolitis

There is no treatment: toothache tends to fade progressively

Gingivitis

Treatment depends on the cause of the gum inflammation

Chipped teeth (toothache depends, in this case, on the exposure of the dental pulp)

Tooth reconstruction

Growth of milk teeth

There is no specific treatment to reduce toothache and gum pain induced by the eruption of a baby tooth

Professional teeth whitening

Toothache resolves in a couple of days, without necessarily requiring dental intervention. In these cases, it is recommended to avoid the use of hard bristle toothbrushes and aggressive / whitening toothpastes as long as the toothache has passed.

Bruxism and stress

Trying to relax is the most effective remedy for stress-dependent toothache. Also bite they can be helpful in treating bruxism with all its symptoms

Dental hypersensitivity

Avoid eating too hot or frozen foods
Prefer delicate, fluoride-enriched toothpastes and avoid whitening or too aggressive ones

Heart ailments

In this case, the toothache is a reflection of a very important pathology (eg angina, myocardial infarction); it is recommended to implement all the recommendations suggested by the doctor to prevent any heart complications and to treat the problem that arises at the origin.
In these circumstances, toothache is a secondary symptom; the priority clearly rests with heart disease.